Qatar Airways has reinstated five daily flights between Doha and Colombo, bringing its operations back to full strength from today (01). 

The move ensures a total of 35 weekly flights to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), significantly enhancing connectivity for passengers traveling between Sri Lanka and Qatar.

The airline’s expanded schedule is expected to provide seamless travel options for business and leisure passengers, while strengthening Colombo’s position as a key South Asian hub. (Newswire)

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Qatar Airways has unveiled its latest revised flight schedule, marking a steady expansion of services to more than 120 destinations worldwide by mid‑May 2026. 

The airline confirmed that all flights to and from Doha will continue to operate through dedicated corridors established with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. 

While schedules remain subject to operational and regulatory changes, the carrier stressed its commitment to passenger safety and convenience, assuring travellers of flexible booking options and uninterrupted service amid ongoing adjustments.

Travellers are informed that flight schedules that are subject to change or cancellation due to operational, regulatory, safety, or other circumstances are beyond its control.

To view the schedule, click here: https://www.qatarairways.com/en-lk/rebooking-options.html#flightschedule 

The airline further states that passengers who currently hold a confirmed booking on a flight to one of the destinations listed in the new schedule will be contacted with new flight information, while they are urged to check the Qatar Airways website or app and ensure their contact details are correct and updated.

Passengers are also requested not to arrive at their departure airport unless they hold a valid, confirmed ticket for travel.

“Our teams are doing everything within the current constraints to ensure our passengers reach their destinations. We deeply apologise for any inconvenience caused during this period of disruption and thank our passengers for their patience and understanding. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” Qatar Airways added, in a statement on social media. 

Furthermore, travellers are reminded that if they have a confirmed booking with a travel date between 28 February and 15 June 2026, they are eligible for:

– Complimentary date changes to a new travel date up to 31 October 2026 when rebooking on flights operated by Qatar Airways, subject to availability and fare seasonality, or

– Refund of the unused ticket value. Please note that refunds may take up to 28 working days to be processed.

For the latest updates and booking-related assistance, please visit:  https://www.qatarairways.com/en-lk/rebooking-options.html (Newswire)

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A Southern California cardiologist of Sri Lankan origin has died after choking on a piece of food while flying Qatar Airways from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka, it was reported. 

According to his grieving family, 85-year-old Asoka Jayaweera was denied the vegetarian meal he had ordered, then died after choking on a piece of food while attempting to “eat around” the meat in the meal he was given instead.

The pilot couldn’t make an emergency landing to get 85-year-old Asoka Jayaweera to a doctor because the plane was “travelling over the Arctic Circle/Ocean,” alleges a newly filed wrongful death lawsuit obtained by The Independent.

However, Jayaweera’s son Surya contends the aircraft was actually over the Midwest at the time and could have easily diverted, their complaint states.

When the flight eventually touched down in Edinburgh, Scotland, Jayaweera, a “strict vegetarian,” had been unconscious for some three-and-a-half hours, according to the complaint. It says he was taken to the hospital, but that it was already too late.

In addition to standard options such as chicken biryani and couscous with beef, Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of the Emirate of Qatar, offers 19 special meals – of which seven are meat-free: a vegan meal completely devoid of meat, poultry, fish, honey, eggs, or dairy products; a raw vegetarian meal containing only uncooked fruits and vegetables; a vegetarian lacto-ovo meal, which does not contain any meat, poultry, or seafood, but does include egg and/or dairy products; a vegetarian Hindu meal; a vegetarian Jain meal; a vegetarian “Oriental” meal; a children’s vegetarian meal; and a fruit platter.

Travellers with specific dietary restrictions have run into trouble before, mid-flight. Last year, British reality star Jack Fowler, who has a severe nut allergy, said he almost died aboard a Qatar Airways flight to Dubai being served a chicken curry containing nuts. The same thing reportedly happened to Fowler a year earlier when he was served ice cream with nuts, also aboard Qatar Airways.

A Qatar Airways spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. A message sent to the attorney representing the carrier in the suit brought by Surya Jayaweera – who told The Independent he was bogged down with errands and was unable to be interviewed – went unanswered.

On June 23, 2023, Asoka Jayaweera booked a trip from LA to Colombo, Sri Lanka on Qatar Airways, according to his son’s complaint, which was initially filed July 31 in California state court, and removed to Central California federal court on October 3.

A week later, Jayaweera boarded the flight at Los Angeles International Airport, with a connection in Doha, it states.

About two-and-a-half hours into the 15-and-a-half-hour flight, the onboard meal service began, the complaint continues.

“Mr. Jayaweera was a strict vegetarian and requested a vegetarian meal,” the complaint goes on.

Instead, it says, the flight attendant “informed him that there were no vegetarian meals left and that they could only provide him a regular meal with meat and instructed him to ‘eat around’ the meat.”

“While attempting to ‘eat around’ the meat in the meal that he was provided, Asoka Jayaweera began choking shortly thereafter,” the complaint states, without specifying what exactly Jayaweera choked on.

Members of the flight crew stepped in to help, and got on the phone with MedAire, a Phoenix, Arizona-based service that has aviation-trained ER doctors available to remotely guide airline staff through in-flight medical emergencies, according to the complaint.

“At approximately 02:46 UTC, Asoka Jayaweera was monitored with an oxygen saturation level of 69 percent,” the complaint says.

Oxygen saturation levels below 88 percent are considered dangerous.

Although the flight at that moment was passing over Wisconsin, the flight crew told Jayaweera’s travel companion, who is not identified in court filings, that the captain was unable to divert because they were already above the Arctic Circle and about to cross the Arctic Ocean, the complaint alleges.

Meanwhile, the crew administered oxygen to Jayaweera, to no avail – his saturation levels never again exceeded 85 percent, according to the complaint, which says Jayaweera lost consciousness at about 07:30 UTC “and was administered drugs.”

“It was not until approximately 11:00 UTC that the aircraft was brought down in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and Asoka Jayaweera was transported to the hospital,” the complaint states. “Asoka Jayaweera would die in Edinburgh on August 3, 2023, due to aspiration pneumonia,” an infection caused by inhaling food or liquid into the lungs, rather than swallowing it.

The lawsuit notes that Qatar and the United States are members of the Montreal Convention, the international treaty that governs airline liability. It sets a statutory payout limit of roughly $175,000, at current exchange rates, for onboard death and injury claims.

Surya Jayaweera is seeking damages for negligence and wrongful death, in excess of Montreal Convention guidelines, to be determined at trial, plus pre-judgment interest and court costs and attorneys’ fees. (The Independent)

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Twelve people were injured after a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin was hit with turbulence on Sunday.

The flight, which landed in Dublin shortly before 1pm local time, was met by emergency services, including airport police and the fire and rescue department.

According to a statement from Dublin Airport, six passengers and six crew members were injured in the incident, eight of which were taken to hospital following assessment. The Qatar Airways flight QR017 experienced turbulence while flying over Turkey, the statement said.

Dublin Airport said it was assisting passengers and staff and that operations were unaffected. The plane’s return flight to Doha, flight QR018, is scheduled to go ahead as expected, though its departure will be delayed, the airport said.

In a statement to CNN, Qatar Airways said that the flight landed safely in Dublin, but that “a small number of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries in flight and are now receiving medical attention.”

“The matter is now subject to an internal investigation,” the statement continued. “The safety and security of our passengers and crew are our top priority.”

It comes days after 104 passengers were injured and a man with a heart condition was killed on a Singapore Airlines flight that was hit with severe turbulence.

Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore was cruising at 37,000 feet on Tuesday when the plane dropped sharply before climbing several hundred feet, according to flight tracking data. It then repeatedly dipped and ascended for about a minute.

Is turbulence on the rise?

About 65,000 aircraft suffer moderate turbulence every year in the US, and about 5,500 run into severe turbulence. These numbers, however, might be destined to grow.

Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, told CNN in 2022 that he believes climate change is modifying turbulence.

“We ran some computer simulations and found that severe turbulence could double or triple in the coming decades,” Williams said.

The findings, which were later confirmed by observations, highlight a type of turbulence called “clear air turbulence,” which isn’t connected to any visual clues such as storms or clouds. Unlike regular turbulence, it hits suddenly and is hard to avoid.

Singapore Airlines has previously said its flight encountered sudden turbulence. A spokesperson said Sunday that its investigations are ongoing. An earlier CNN analysis of satellite data found the flight entered an area where thunderstorms were developing, which can produce turbulence.

It is not yet known what kind of turbulence the Qatar Airways plane experienced. (CNN)

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Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of Qatar, has announced the recruitment of Cabin Crew in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Posting on its website, Qatar Airways outlined its requirements and qualification for applicants. 

Interested applicants have been requested to upload their CVs and complete the online application. 

Applicants have been encouraged to apply to the closest major city to their location.

Full statement: 

As the market conditions are improving and our network is growing, we are now looking to grow our Cabin Crew team, Qatar Airways’ Ambassadors to the world.

We are in search of highly motivated individuals who can deliver our legendary hospitality and world-class service. With industry-leading benefits and unparalleled training programs, you will support our growth by creating memorable experiences for our passengers onboard.

As you work with Qatar Airways, you can take comfort knowing that you are flying with the only airline in the world that has, together with its state-of-the-art global hub Hamad International Airport, achieved four 5-Star Skytrax ratings – including the prestigious 5-Star Airline Rating, 5-Star Airport Rating, 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating and 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating.

We have always been a leader in the industry and have adapted since the beginning of pandemic becoming the biggest global carrier, whilst continuing to redefine our levels of safety, comfort and service throughout our onboard experience.

Start writing your own story with Qatar Airways, an airline that has never stopped flying and remained resilient throughout the pandemic.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role, you will have the following :

• Minimum age: 21 years
• Minimum arm reach: 212 cm (on tip toes)
• Minimum education: high school education
• Fluent in written and spoken English (ability to speak another language is an asset)
• Excellent health and fitness
• Willingness to relocate to Doha, Qatar
• Outgoing personality with good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a multinational team
• Passion for service

You will also excel in a fast-paced, team environment, demonstrating your commitment to achieving the highest possible standards of customer service and guest experience, quality and professionalism.

Be part of an extraordinary story

Your skills. Your imagination. Your ambition. Here, there are no boundaries to your potential and the impact you can make. You’ll find infinite opportunities to grow and work on the biggest, most rewarding challenges that will build your skills and experience. You have the chance to be a part of our future, and build the life you want while being part of an international community. Our best is here and still to come. To us, impossible is only a challenge. Join us as we dare to achieve what’s never been done before.

Together, everything is possible

About Qatar Airways Group

Our story started with four aircraft. Today, we deliver excellence across 12 different businesses coming together as one. We’ve grown fast, broken records and set trends that others follow. We don’t slow down by the fear of failure. Instead, we dare to achieve what’s never been done before.

So whether you’re creating a unique experience for our customers or innovating behind the scenes, every person contributes to our proud story.  A story of spectacular growth and determination. Now is the time to bring your best ideas and passion to a place where your ambition will know no boundaries, and be part of a truly global community.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please upload your CV and complete the online application.

We encourage you to apply to the closest major city to your location.

Website: https://careers.qatarairways.com/global/en/job/230000A5/Cabin-Crew-Recruitment-Colombo-Sri-Lanka-2023?fbclid=IwAR215SZXdwat9tb9eI4ZKIcEbszRWLg48AzR2mJK1NmWdrv5UuHCSmuA_vc (NewsWire)

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Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of Qatar, will increase its flight frequency to Colombo, Sri Lanka in June. 

Qatar Airways will launch its fifth daily frequency to/from Colombo, effective from 22nd June 2023. 

According to the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), the additional frequency will offer connectivity to over 160 destinations worldwide. 

At present, Qatar Airways handles approximately 21,000 passengers per week at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. 

The AASL added that it is happy to facilitate the increase in frequencies of Qatar Airways, which contributes to the development of the country. (NewsWire)

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